Woman shares photos of cancer-stricken brother after Centrelink stopped his welfare
A woman has slammed Centrelink after her cancer-stricken brother’s welfare payments were stopped.
Sarah Laughlin shared two images on Facebook of 57-year-old Robert Laughlin bedridden in a frail state after he was told his $300 Newstart payments were halted because he had not been looking for work.
The Melbourne father-of-two is battling stage-three bowel cancer and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – just 18 months after the mother of his two teenage sons passed away from cancer.
“Take a good look and ask yourself. Do you think this man can call you every two weeks to maintain his New Start (sic) allowance?” Ms Laughlin questioned Centrelink online before asking if they thought he was in any fit state to work.
“I would suggest the answer to each of these questions would be NO (sic).”
She went on to lambast the system, saying there was an “injustice” that someone in his position could not claim a disability pension as he was only temporarily unable to work.
Ms Laughlin, whose brother owns his own business since becoming a carpenter as a teenager, claims despite paperwork from doctors declaring her brother unfit to work, he was placed on the Newstart program – designed for those actively seeking work.
Newstart requires its welfare recipients to contact Centrelink every fortnight to confirm they are looking for employment. Mr Laughlin failed to do so, prompting his payments to be halted.
“To say I am angry and upset is an understatement,” his sister continued.
“After 35 years of paying taxes this is as good as you can do in his time of need.”
While Mr Laughlin also receives $150 every two weeks in single parent payments, the amount is barely enough to keep his family going.
Due to his Hodgkins disease he was unable to obtain income insurance.
His situation was so dire, his sister Jane flew to the US to help look after his boys Max and Tiger, Kidspot revealed.
Mr Laughlin’s condition has left him out of work since December with the next six months predicted to be the same and will be followed up with round the clock care.
To help fund his ongoing recovery, his family have set up a GoFundMe page and have so far raised over $8000.
His sister’s post was inundated with support and others shared their bad experiences with Centrelink.
“This story is not just about him. It’s about everybody who is dealing with Centrelink with the issues Robert has,” Ms Laughlin told Kidspot.
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“I get angry because Robert is in need. It’s just horrifying. I can’t explain how angry I am.”
She urged for a shake-up of the system to make sure nobody else suffered in the manner her brother has.
The Department of Humans Services General Manager Hank Jongen told Yahoo7 News it was unable to hand out payments outside of the legislation agreed and that eligibility for payments doesn’t solely rest on a diagnosis.
“Recipients of Newstart Allowance may be able to claim temporary exemptions from mutual obligations because of medical conditions,” he said.
“We encourage recipients to contact us or their employment services provider to discuss any changes to their circumstances.”
He added if a recipient is unwell to communicate, they can arrange for someone else to act on their behalf.
“People have a right to request a review of a decision to reject a claim, and can provide additional evidence about their circumstances,” he added.
